Bitan Tells Chareidim To Stay Away From Ultimatums As Draft Law Won’t Pass In Summer Session Of Knesset

As Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is working to formulate a new draft law for chareidim, as per the demands and coalitions agreements signed with chareidi parties, former Coalition Chairman MK (Likud) David Bitan announced, “there isn’t a chance the bill will be passed in the summer session”.

Speaking with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Wednesday morning, 9 Sivan, Bitan explained the bill hasn’t a prayer of being passed during the current Knesset session.

Bitan turned to the leaders of the chareidi factions, telling them to refrain from issuing ultimatums since it is pointless, as he is absolutely certain there isn’t a chance of passing a new draft law by the end of the current Knesset session.

Bitan feels that inducting chareidim into the IDF will not result in ‘sharing the burden’. “There is no sharing the burden between those doing Sheirut Leumi and those doing full military service or between one serving in the Kirya (Defense Ministry) and one serving in Golani”.

It is reported that PM Netanyahu this week spoke with Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, asking him to accelerate the bill. It is reported that Lieberman’s team is in the final stages of preparing the new plan, which will then be shown to the chareidim, who will have to decide.

Last week, there was already threats from chareidi legislators, that the bill must be passed as coalition agreement, and if this does not occur, they will break from the coalition.